Enchanted Forest

I just received a pre-launch sample today of Enchanted Forest by Bertrand Duchaufour from a new fragrance company called the Vagabond Prince. Has anyone else tried this? The inspiration was blackcurrants and the Russian forest, a kind of fairytale forest ripe with dark berries, fir balsam, vetiver and resins. Really appealing in an earthy, natural way.

There will be more free samples when it launches in January, so if you ask nicely, who knows.

Re: Enchanted Forest

Signed up and did not win, no surprise for me. There were a lot of familiar names in the list of winners, so the buzz will reach us all soon, I am sure.

Blackcurrant is one of my most favorite notes, especially in combination with davana. Bertrand D.'s recent creations are more misses than hits for me though. I wish the company who launched it all the best though, they are working hard. Some ideas for future releases are Yaroslavna and Leda.

Re: Enchanted Forest

Even without the horrid scandal of Gulnara-Gate, I had pretty much given up on Duchaufour's perfumes. There are too many, and too similar. Also, he's been using a few notes in pretty much all the new ones that give me a horrible headache, I suppose I am hyperosmic to them. I mean, aren't there any other deserving perfumers out there who can compose a new niche fragrance? I can think of a few, surely some of these niche owners can, too. I have experienced total BD Burnout.

Re: Enchanted Forest

Love black currant, coriander, davana, rosemary, rose, honeysuckly patchouli and castoreum, so needless to say I'm excited to be on the winner's list! I'm not a huge fan of Duchaufour (I tend to really like just about everything he does, but rarely ever find actual *love*).

I'm curious if the coriander/davana element is going to be similar to that in Jubilation XXV. I hope it's the more winey/grapey davana, like that present in its sister, Jubilation 25.

Re: Enchanted Forest

I'm one of the lucky winners. After a quick sniff I can say that the blackcurrent note is definitely the main player, sweetened with vanilla and spiced with pink pepper. Though not listed in the notes, it seems vaguely incensey to me.

Re: Enchanted Forest

I also won a sample, and received it today. Very astringent black current opening, reminiscent of grapefruit rind. some cooking spices (coriander) and some pine. I don't smell rose or vetiver though they are listed. It is a definite citrus themed parfum not quite gourmand, suitable for summer/warm weather wear. As for the Duchaufour scandal/drama, It is like the debate over sports hero's or music stars who's personal life has scandal. I like their product (athletics, music, art, perfume etc.) and really don't care much what they do in their personal lives. I guess the wealthy ruthless dictators have to smell nice too!

Re: Enchanted Forest

Mine came in the mail today as well and just dabbed some on my wrist. I apologize for not possessing the descriptive skill necessary for the reader to get an accurate impression of the fragrance. I am vague because I don't want to come across as a pretentious poser, but I know what I like and so far (30 minutes in), Enchanted Forest is a like. I detect a sweetish wild berry and something coniferous floating in the background. Hope the dry-down doesn't disappoint. My main concern is if it might be too feminine.

I just transferred the dabber vial contents to a spray vial so maybe I can give a better impression after a more complete wearing. Again, so far... pretty nice.

Re: Enchanted Forest

Originally Posted by chili_willi

Mine came in the mail today as well and just dabbed some on my wrist. I apologize for not possessing the descriptive skill necessary for the reader to get an accurate impression of the fragrance. I am vague because I don't want to come across as a pretentious poser, but I know what I like and so far (30 minutes in), Enchanted Forest is a like. I detect a sweetish wild berry and something coniferous floating in the background. Hope the dry-down doesn't disappoint. My main concern is if it might be too feminine.

I just transferred the dabber vial contents to a spray vial so maybe I can give a better impression after a more complete wearing. Again, so far... pretty nice.

You have a good idea, I found that fragrances daubed smell different than fragrances sprayed...

Re: Enchanted Forest

I got it and I like it. Blackcurrant is clearly the center - nicely fruity but not overpowering. The restraint was very welcome. The coniferous notes are the big winner for me - lots of them, and very, very realistic. I was impressed. Also some earthy, moist, forest-floor notes that appeal to my country-boy side. Freshness, too. Good balance, so that everything is in focus during the opening. It lives up to the theme and the ad copy.

Kinda goes bad on my skin - becomes outright balsamic/fruity and loses the complexity. On paper it stays nice and complex, so I'm gonna try it on clothing. Longevity is not great on my skin. Smells very natural, however - a big plus.

I think it's a winner. Not sure if I want a bottle, but it's easy to recommend. Unisex, IMO.

Re: Enchanted Forest

An epic failure.
Its an anti-Bertrand perfume.

Like Serge's l'eau.

Its a mess.
Absolutely no complexity. Muddled.
No smooth rendition between notes & accords.
Reminds me of when I get stuck in sand when I go off roading. Agonizing.
Complexity is not an opinion, nor is harmony of transition between top, middle and base. Not all perfumes are intended to be complex, nor should they be. But it's clear when Enchanted Forest was intended to be complex but failed miserably. Then there's the muddled transition.

Don't get me wrong. I love B. Duchafour. Heck I own 15 of his creations but it's like a mangled walrus freeing itself from quicksand. It's not a graceful sight.

Re: Enchanted Forest

Originally Posted by hedonist222

But it's clear when Enchanted Forest was intended to be complex but failed miserably. Then there's the muddled transition. ... it's like a mangled walrus freeing itself from quicksand. It's not a graceful sight.

Best negative fragrance simile in a long time. Et tu, Turin!!

Huzzah, hedonist!

[Disclaimer: I have no idea what the fragrance smells like. I just love the description.]

Despite the laundry list of notes, I was only able to make out sweet, juicy berry and incensey fir, with a hint of musk emerging after several hours on skin. I thought it was a charming scent, atmospheric rather than classically perfumey. I did enjoy the spray sample I was given, though I don't know that I'd ever be able to get through (or wish for) a full bottle.

"I felt something so intense, I could only express it in a perfume." - Jacques Guerlain

Re: Enchanted Forest

On me it is a blackcurrent scent.

Have I told you about the scent of jasmine? Have I spoken about the smell of the sea? The earth is scented. And I perfume myself to enhance what I am. That's why I can not wear a perfume that bothers me. Perfuming is an instinctive wisdom. And like all art, it requires some knowledge of yourself..."
Clarice Lispector ( 1920-1977) - Perfumes da Terra / Earth Perfumes

Re: Enchanted Forest

I finally managed to obtain a sample. I like the green juicy opening; the green leaf comes through very clearly, and the fruit is just right--not sweet, not overly tart. I use fresh rosemary a lot, but I don't detect it clearly here. I admit I was worried about the "fir balsam" notes. I usually don't like them in fragrances, but here they are very subtle. I wouldn't get this fragrance, though, for its purported woodiness. The musk is very subtle, thankfully not overwhelming at all. It dries down to an almost mellow, vaguely fruity fragrance, only touched by a hint of sweetness, plus the composite effect of other notes that are difficult to isolate. Although I like the opening, and everything seems measured, it ends up turning into something like dissonant chords on my skin.

Re: Enchanted Forest

Still have not tried this: did not win a sample from the F site or was not that lucky to find it elsewhere. If someone has a little bit to share please let me know, OK? A big, no, HUGE fan of black currant, you know....

Re: Enchanted Forest

I swapped for someone's used sample.

I thought it smelled great on paper-- more complex than on skin, where the amber and muskiness took over. So I thought it might work sprayed over clothing.

But that didn't work, either-- the blackcurrant leaf ("cat pee") smell was overwhelming. Normally I like blackcurrant in fragrances-- I love L'Ombre Dans L'Eau and In Love Again-- but this was too much of a good thing. My husband also didn't like it.